Reassess Your Circle of Influence

Galatians 5:7-8 NIV | You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.

Your most predominant relationships have a profound impact on you. They influence you on both a conscious and subconscious level, in essence in healthy and unhealthy ways. It is recommended that you should reassess your circle of influence on a regular cadence with the intention to resolve whether or not the relationship is continuously adding richly to your life, distracting you from your purpose/good race, and/or brings misery and promotes destructive habits. It is as simple as crafting a Relationship Audit (similar to a Life Audit) by writing a person’s name then adding honest reflection points in the columns of Life Additions and Life Subtractions. Life Additions are what you receive from the relationship overall, what it provides in regards to your needs and wants being met, along with if your love language cup is being filled. Life Subtractions are things you do not receive from the relationship, cons, toxic patterns, and reflections on the actuality of the person, not the ideal them.

You hold the power to make a decision on how to maintain, adjust, or let go of the relationship once you have reassessed it. You are encouraged to approach whichever decision with grace, peace, and integrity. There are times when someone in your circle does not warrant a complete cut-off instead you can redefine the relationship and the amount of time spent consuming their influence. When we are aligned and influenced by honorable relationships, our entire being is elevated and we are more encouraged/equipped to run our good race. Honorable relationships are those that exude faithfulness, love, joy, empowerment, and provide fulfillment in a multitude of ways. The question posed in the Galatians verse, “Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?” - is the kind of thought-provoking question that prompts you to reflect on where you may be falling short or stumbling based on a connection that ‘cut in’ on your straight path. Facing the truth about your current circle of influence will set you free from the connections that have already expired and draw you closer to those fruitful connections that should be continuously nurtured.

Joy Gem: “God will always bring the right people into your life, but you have to let the wrong people walk away.” - Joel O.